Andhra reports 26 new COVID-19 cases; state tally rises to 252

The coronavirus curve was surging upward at a rapid pace in Andhra Pradesh as 26 cases were added during the day on Sunday, taking the overall tally past the 250 mark to 252, with Kurnool district fast becoming the hotbed of the pandemic.

The coronavirus curve was surging upward at a rapid pace in Andhra Pradesh as 26 cases were added during the day on Sunday, taking the overall tally past the 250 mark to 252, with Kurnool district fast becoming the hotbed of the pandemic. In all 62 cases were added in the state since Saturday

night.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy over phone on Sunday evening and discussed the situation in the wake of the mounting number of positive cases, primarily due to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation attendees.

The two discussed the measures being taken to contain the disease as well as the facilities for the affected persons, official sources said.

COVID cases, which were just four till yesterday, shot up to 27 since Saturday night and further up to 53 by Sunday evening in Kurnool district, as per the latest bulletin of the Medical and Health Department.

Close to 190 people from Kurnool district attended the Jamaat event in New Delhi, the largest delegation from AP.

And this was clearly reflecting in the increasing number of coronavirus cases from the district, official sources said.

"Results of more tests from the district are awaited while many persons and their contacts still remain to be tested. The numbers may go up further," the sources added.

While Kurnool topped the state list with 53 cases, SPS Nellore came second with 34 and Guntur third with 30 cases.

More than 90 people from Guntur and 70 from SPS Nellore district attended the Jamaat event.

With five coronavirus patients discharged from hospitals after recovery, and the death of a 55-year old man, the number of active cases in the state stood at 246, according to the latest bulletin.

The two north coastal Andhra districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram are the only ones that remain unaffected by the virus as they did not record a single positive case so far.